Antirattling device for automobiles or other vehicles.



APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6. I9I3.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

I WITNESSES WALTER Gr. SWIFT, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

ANTIRATTLIN G DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES OR OTHER VEHICLES.

Application filed November 6, 1913. Serial No. 799,454.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVALTER Gr. SWIFT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county ofProvidence and State of Rhode Island, have invented cer tain new anduseful Improvements in Antirattling Devices for Automobiles or otherVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in anti-rattling devices for use onautomobiles or other vehicles.

The object of my improvement is to pro vide a simple and inexpensivedevice adapted to be applied to the brake-rods or other movable elementsof an automobile to prevent undue vibration or rattling thereof.

The invention is fully described in the following specification,illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which like letters ofreference designate like parts.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of my new device showing itattached to a part of the running gear of the automobile and arranged torestrain the brake-rod from lateral displacement; Fig. 2 is a sectionalelevation of the device.

Referring to the drawings, my new device is preferably made in the formof a clamp- 'member A having spring jaws a, a adapted to straddle somerigid part of the automobile running-gear. As here shown the jaws a, aare fitted to the radius-rod B which usually extends from the forwardpart of the chassis of the automobile to the rear axle-housing on eachside of the runninggear. The clamp A is secured to the radiusrod B by abinder-screw or bolt 6 extending through the holes I), b at the ends ofthe jaws a, a. It will be understood, however, that any other supportmight be used for the clamp A, the one designated being most convenienton account of its usual location in close proximity to the brake-rods.

Extending from the side of the clampmember A is an arm C, preferably ofcylindrical form and provided with a longitudinal bore or cored-outpocket 0. The end of the arm 0 is formed with a cross-piece 0 having abore or hole 0 extending at rightangles to the bore 0. Fitted loosely tothe end of the bore 0 is a sliding plunger or plug D formed with alaterally-extending bore or hole 0?. The hole (11 in the plug D may beof the same or of slightly less diameter than the cross-bore 0 in thearm C and is adapted to register or aline therewith. Inserted in thepocket 0 of the arm C is a coiled. spring E arranged to normally forcethe plug D outwardly in the bore 0 of the arm, but adapted to becompressed to bring the'hole Z in line with the hole 0".

As before stated it is usual in automobile construction to arrange thebrake-rods for the brakes of the rear wheels in close relation to thelongitudinally-extending radius- Specification of Letters Patent. Pate td Sept, 26,1916,

rods which take the thrust of the rear axle.

Fig. 1 illustrates the radius-rod B running at a slight angle totheadjacent brake-rod F and this arrangement is used on a well knowntype of car now in extensive use. The approved form of my invention hereshown is'designed especially for this type of construction and it willbe observedfrom Fig. 1 that the arm C is set at an angle to r 1 theclamp A to adapt its cross-piece 0 to aline axially with the brake-rodF. The arm C is also inclined upwardly from'the clamp A as shown in Fig.2, to bring the bore 0 of the cross-piece 0 into position to receive thebrake-rod F which is located slightly above the radius-rod B. Thesedetails, however, are merely a matter of design and construction and anyother suitable form of clamp-member could be used in accordance with therequirements of thestructure of the vehicle to which it is applied.

The new device is applied to use in the following manner: With thespring E in place in the pocket 0 of the arm (3 the plug D is pressedinwardly to bring its'hole (Z into alinement with the cross-bore c. Thebrake-rod F having been uncoupled at the turnbuckle or other connectingjoint, its end is inserted through the holes 0 and (Z, it being notedthat these latter are somewhat larger in diameter than the rod toprovide an easy fit. The brake-rod F is now connected up again and theclamp Ais adjusted along the radius-rod B and secured in position withthe parts in relation as illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be observed thatsince the tendency of the spring E is to force the plug D outwardly inthe bore ofthe arm C, thebrakerod F will be pressed against the outerwall of the cross-bore 0 of the arm, as illustrated most clearly in Fig.2. In other words, the spring E serves to hold the brake-rod F pressedagainst the side of the bore a in the cross-piece 0 and thus restrainsit from un- [due lateral vibration or side play. At the same time thetension of the spring E is not suflicient to cause the plug D to bindthe rod to prevent its longitudinal movement, but, on the contrary, itsmovement in this direction under action of the brake-lever is unimpededto any appreciable extent. Furthermore, I have found that by packing thespring-pocket 0 with grease the same can be made to feed slowly into theholes a and (Z so that the bearing for the brake-rod is kept constantlylubricated and a much smoother action results. Owing to irregularitiesin the brakerod, which is never exactly straight and true, the movementof the rod. through the holes 0- and (l sets up a slight play orplunger-like motion of the plug D, and it is this action that causes thegrease to ooze out'from the pocket 0 and spread to the cross-bore in theplug and arm.

It will be seen from the above that my invention provioes a simple andeflicient means for supporting and steadying the brake-rod or othersimilar part to prevent vibration and rattling thereof. Besideseliminating noise and rattle, my new arrangement also has the advantageof preventing undue wear on the brake-lever pins and other connections,and hence its use increases the durability of these parts.

As before stated my new device might be arranged for attachment to otherparts of the car besides the radius-rods, and it could also be u. ed tosupport more than one rod, as in the case where double brakes areemployed, or for other purpose which might occur. Various modificationsmight be made in the form and construction of my new device withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself to the precise embodiment shown .anddescribed, what I claim is 1. In an anti-rattling device for automobilesor other vehicles, the combination with the running-gear thereof, of aclamp-member adapted to be secured thereto, an arm extending, from theclamp-member formed with a bearing for encircling a brake-rod or similarpart of the vehicle to permit said rod to slide longitudinally therein,and resili ently-operated means carried by said arm and adapted to bearagainst the rod and force it against the bearing to prevent lateralvibration or chattering thereof.

2. In an anti-rattling device for automobiles or other vehicles, thecombination with a clamp-member adapted to be secured to the,runmng-gear of the vehicle, of a bearing on said member having a boreadapted to receive a brake-rod or similar part of the vehicle to allowsaid'rodto slide longitudinally therein, means carried by said meming onsaid member having a bore through which the brake-rod is adapted toslide longitudinally, slidable-means in the bearing adapted to bearagainst the side of the brake-rod, and resilient means to force saidsliding-means against the brakerod to restrain the latter from lateralvibration or rattling.

4. In an anti-rattling device for automobiles or other vehicles, thecomhinationwith a clamp-member adapted to be attached to therunning-gear of tl1e:vehicle,.said member formed with an arm having alongitudinal bore and a cross-bore extending at rightangles thereto, aplunger-plug mounted in said longitudinal bore and formed with a lateralbore adapted to register with the cross-bore of the arm, and a spring inthe longitudinal bore ofthe arm arranged to slide the plug to cause itto impinge upon a brake-rod or similar partextending through thecross-bores of the arm andplug.

5. In an anti-rattling device for automobiles or other vehicles, thecombination with. a. clamp-member adapted to be attached to therunning-gear of the vehicle, said member formed with an arm having alongitudinal bore and a cross-bore. extending at right-angles theretotoadapt it to receive a brake-rod or similar part, means mounted to slidein the longitudinal. bore, and a spring in said longitudinal borearranged. to operate the sliding-means to force it against the brake-rodto bind the'latter in the cross-bore to prevent lateral vibrationthereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature inpresence of two witnesses. V

WVALTER G. SWIFT...

Witnesses:

G-nonen F. Bonn, HERBERT K. ALLARD.

Copies of this patent may bc'obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G.

